Tuscaloosa County Commission backs PARA plan

The Tuscaloosa County Commission on Wednesday unanimously endorsed a five-year, $15.3 million plan to improve park and recreation facilities across the county, including work at Bowers Park pictured here.

Staff photo | Dusty Compton

By Lydia Seabol AvantStaff Writer

Published: Thursday, January 24, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 at 11:27 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA | The Tuscaloosa County Commission on Wednesday unanimously endorsed a five-year, $15.3 million plan to improve park and recreation facilities across the county.

But the support didn't come without debate. How much the county will support the project financially and its approval of the plan's details is up in the air.

“I don't think there is anything wrong with the concept,” said Hardy McCollum, the commission's chairman. “It's the details, and that's where we are, the details.”

The five-year plan includes building a six-court gymnasium at the Belk Center, the renovation of two soccer fields and the construction of 10 new soccer fields to create a Sokol Park soccer complex, plus renovating the eight existing softball/baseball fields and the construction of five more at Bowers Park.

The plan also includes constructing a multipurpose metal building at Sokol Park North, updating lighting at Bowers Park and adding lighting to fields at the Bobby Miller Center.

While McCollum said he wasn't against the plan, he didn't understand why four existing baseball fields at Sokol North would be torn down to create six soccer fields, and then four baseball fields would be built at Bowers Park. Because Bowers Park is close to the interstate, the Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports Commission pointed out that the site could easily draw in tourism dollars by hosting baseball and softball tournaments.

McCollum said that he was against removing the ballfields, because it could force residents near Sokol to have to drive across town.

“I have problems personally with the makeup of the facility, because we are backing away from community parks,” McCollum said. “This is being driven by traveling conventions.”

Commissioner Reginald Murray pointed out that having athletic competitions and conventions in Tuscaloosa would benefit local residents.

“When these local athletes compete, they have to go somewhere else,” Murray said. “We have to look at the big picture.”

According to the Tuscaloosa County Park and Recreation Authority and the tourism and sports commission, the project will generate millions of dollars in new revenue for the area for years to come. The tourism and sports commission estimates that almost $30 million would have come from five tournaments that did not consider Tuscaloosa County because the county's facilities were inadequate for the events' organizers.

Still, McCollum was hesitant.

“Are we really taking a step forward if we are removing fields at one facility and moving them across town?” McCollum said.

Gary Minor, director of PARA, told the commission that the plan will save $3 million by moving the four baseball fields at Sokol and turning them into soccer fields because of existing lighting at Sokol.

McCollum was ready to end the discussion Wednesday without a vote of support, but Commissioner Bobby Miller made the motion to support the concept, as long as the commission met with the city of Tuscaloosa to work out details, including funding, within the next 30 days. The motion was approved unanimously.

The city of Tuscaloosa has approved to move forward with the plan, so long as the county also supports the project. Tuscaloosa City Council President Harrison Taylor, who was at Wednesday's County Commission meeting, said he was glad the commission moved forward with their vote.

“This is a good idea and something that will benefit the whole city and the county,” Taylor said. “It's a quality of life issue.”

Tuscaloosa City Councilman Lee Garrison agreed. “I'm pleased to see them endorse the project. It needs to be a joint project between the county and the city. I look forward to sitting down (with the county) in the next 30 days.”

<p>TUSCALOOSA | The Tuscaloosa County Commission on Wednesday unanimously endorsed a five-year, $15.3 million plan to improve park and recreation facilities across the county. </p><p>But the support didn't come without debate. How much the county will support the project financially and its approval of the plan's details is up in the air.</p><p>“I don't think there is anything wrong with the concept,” said Hardy McCollum, the commission's chairman. “It's the details, and that's where we are, the details.”</p><p>The five-year plan includes building a six-court gymnasium at the Belk Center, the renovation of two soccer fields and the construction of 10 new soccer fields to create a Sokol Park soccer complex, plus renovating the eight existing softball/baseball fields and the construction of five more at Bowers Park. </p><p>The plan also includes constructing a multipurpose metal building at Sokol Park North, updating lighting at Bowers Park and adding lighting to fields at the Bobby Miller Center. </p><p>While McCollum said he wasn't against the plan, he didn't understand why four existing baseball fields at Sokol North would be torn down to create six soccer fields, and then four baseball fields would be built at Bowers Park. Because Bowers Park is close to the interstate, the Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports Commission pointed out that the site could easily draw in tourism dollars by hosting baseball and softball tournaments. </p><p>McCollum said that he was against removing the ballfields, because it could force residents near Sokol to have to drive across town. </p><p>“I have problems personally with the makeup of the facility, because we are backing away from community parks,” McCollum said. “This is being driven by traveling conventions.”</p><p>Commissioner Reginald Murray pointed out that having athletic competitions and conventions in Tuscaloosa would benefit local residents. </p><p>“When these local athletes compete, they have to go somewhere else,” Murray said. “We have to look at the big picture.”</p><p>According to the Tuscaloosa County Park and Recreation Authority and the tourism and sports commission, the project will generate millions of dollars in new revenue for the area for years to come. The tourism and sports commission estimates that almost $30 million would have come from five tournaments that did not consider Tuscaloosa County because the county's facilities were inadequate for the events' organizers.</p><p>Still, McCollum was hesitant. </p><p>“Are we really taking a step forward if we are removing fields at one facility and moving them across town?” McCollum said.</p><p>Gary Minor, director of PARA, told the commission that the plan will save $3 million by moving the four baseball fields at Sokol and turning them into soccer fields because of existing lighting at Sokol. </p><p>McCollum was ready to end the discussion Wednesday without a vote of support, but Commissioner Bobby Miller made the motion to support the concept, as long as the commission met with the city of Tuscaloosa to work out details, including funding, within the next 30 days. The motion was approved unanimously. </p><p>The city of Tuscaloosa has approved to move forward with the plan, so long as the county also supports the project. Tuscaloosa City Council President Harrison Taylor, who was at Wednesday's County Commission meeting, said he was glad the commission moved forward with their vote. </p><p>“This is a good idea and something that will benefit the whole city and the county,” Taylor said. “It's a quality of life issue.”</p><p>Tuscaloosa City Councilman Lee Garrison agreed. “I'm pleased to see them endorse the project. It needs to be a joint project between the county and the city. I look forward to sitting down (with the county) in the next 30 days.”</p><p>Reach Lydia Seabol Avant at 205-722-0222 or lydia.seabol</p><p>avant@tuscaloosanews.com.</p>